Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Barrel length & twist for 243win

I'm considering getting a new 243win barrel for a Savage. Looking more for a range, maybe field gun. Not too concerned with weight, as if going out it won't too much walking hiking. would use a SSS recoil lug, Timney trigger and hopefully a Manners EH4 or MCS-T if I can get in a group buy.

Thinking SS maybe Shilen or Apache gunworks.
Wouldn't like to go past 24" and maybe even 23", though 22 wouldn't bother me, unless velocity drops to much.
I'd like to shoot bullets in the 80-105grain range, so from what I've read a 1:8 or 1:9 would be ideal. Is 1:9 better suited?

Any opinions or input? besides screwing that idea and suggesting selling the Salvage and getting a Tikka T3, which I have also considered
If this goes, it would be the first custom rifle I put together.

8 twist. It will stabilize long bullets if you ever want to shoot them, and not give away any accuracy for shorter bullets.

22.75 inches. It doesn't matter in the range you are considering.

Edit: what the Savage has the Tikka doesn't is an American worker behind it. I buy American when I can, and it's pretty tough now. Rifles are one of the remaining high quality American items you can get!

8" twist.

I agree on the 8 twist, 7.5 if you want to shoot the 115's.

I have a couple of savages with Criterion barrels from northland shooters supply and they really shoot great. They're not as well known as the more high end barrels but I've got shilen, Kreiger, Lilja, Bartlein, and have had several other custom tubes & my Criterions shoot right with the best of them. The savage varmint contour, similar to a remington varmint, is a good semi-heavy contour that has enough meat to shoot well but still being somewhat man-portable.

Have one with a 24" 10 twist. When I replace that one it will be with a 24" 8 twist.

I have a 24" 7 twist. It will shoot any 243 bullet made...

I'm a .243 nut and always go 8 twist.

1:8
22"

1/8 twist. Last one I put together I went LONG on the barrel to squeeze out all the extra fps's....one of my longest barrels at 22.5"

I use a different caliber for heavy bullets. 13 twist for 77 grain and 12 twist to 80 grain. I use 14 and 15 twist in my 22" Br rifles.

Thanks for the input guys. Seems like 1:8 and 22" is the huckleberry for my needs.

Butch,
I likely will lean on "heavier bullets" ie: 95, 100 and 105s more than the 80s. I don't think I will shoot 115s.

My kids are still young, so no need to load down or shoot light and I don't have varminting opportunities anyway, so I'd rather have a deer/hog load ready.

My other centerfire is a 7mmRM, so along a 22LR, I have pretty much everything covered with the 243.

I built a 243 a couple years ago and went with a Douglas air gauged 22" 8 twist in a Remington varmint contour. It will shoot Berger hunting vld 105's at 2850 fps into one ragged hole. It's lots of fun

+1 on the 1-8 twist.

If you want to go really heavier a 1-7.5 option might be a good option. Crow hunter hit the nail on the head with the earlier analysis.